PHASE DIAGRAMS

Phase Diagrams
Introduction
Definition of terms
Phase rule
Types of phase diagrams

Phase Diagrams
What are phase diagrams?
Phase diagram is a graphical
representation of phases present and the
ranges in composition, temperature, and
pressure over which the phases are
stable.

Phase Diagrams
Requirement for phase diagrams
To determine
The number of phases present at any
temperature.
Their relative amounts.
The composition of each phases and
the spatial distribution of each phases.
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Phase Diagrams
Definition of Terms
i.

Phase

ii.

Component

Phase Diagrams
Phase

Phase is a chemically and structurally

homogeneous region of a material. Thus a single
phase material is one that has the same
composition and structure at every point of
the material. (E.g. Ice is one phase and water
is another phase)
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Phase Diagrams
Component
This term can be loosely defined as a
chemically
distinct
and
essentially
indivisible substance. (E.g. elemental
components such as Fe, Si, C etc. ,
Stichomythic compounds such as NaCl,
Li2O, Si3N4 etc.)
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Phase Diagrams
Phase rule
The phase rule can be mathematically stated
as follows:
F=CP+E
Where,
P No. of phases present
F No. of degrees of freedom
C No. of components present
E Environmental variable (1 or 2)
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Phase Diagrams
Types of Phase diagrams
1.

Unary systems

2.

Binary systems

Single component system

What is a unary system?
Unary or a Single component system
is a system which consists of only one
component.
E.g. single component H2O system.

Single component system

H2O System

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Binary Systems
Introduction
Specification of composition in binary
phase diagrams

Types of binary phase diagrams

Binary Systems
What are binary systems?
Binary
systems
component systems.
E.g: Fe-C, Cu-Zn etc.

are

two

Binary Systems
Temperature

It Consists of three variables.

Composition

Variables in Binary Systems

Binary Systems
But they are usually drawn between
composition and temperature (two
variables) omitting pressure.
Therefore, called isobaric diagrams.

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Binary Systems
Specification of Composition in Binary
Phase Diagrams:
Atomic Percentage
Weight Percentage

Binary Systems
Conversion to atomic % from weight%
(w t%A) (at.w t.A)
at%A
100%
[ (w t%A) (at.w t.A)] [ (w t%B) (at.w t.B)]

Conversion to weight% from atomic%

at%A at.w t.A

w t%A
100%
at%A at.w t.A at%B at.w t.B
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Binary Systems
Types of Binary Phase diagrams
a)
Isomorphous Systems
(E.g.: Cu-Ni, Ag-Au, NiO-MgO, etc.)

b)
Eutectic Systems
(E.g.:Pb-Sn, Ag-Cu, Al-Si, etc.)

Isomorphous system
What are Isomorphous diagrams?
The binary system exhibiting
complete liquid solubility as well as solid
solubility is called isomorphous system.

The complete solid solubility occurs

only when the system satisfies Hume
Rotherys rule.

Isomorphous system
Hume Rotherys rule
The solute and the solvent atoms do not
differ by more than 15% in diameter,
ii. The
electronegativity
difference
between the elements is small,
iii. The valency and the crystal structure of
the elements are the same.
i.

Isomorphous system
Typical isomorphous phase diagrams
Microstructural changes in isomorphous
diagrams
Tie line
Lever rule

Isomorphous system
Liquidus
Solidus

Solid

Typical Isomorphous Phase diagram containing

A and B components

Isomorphous system

The

Cu- Ni
Binary phase

diagram

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Isomorphous system
Tie line
Microstructural
changes during
cooling in a
Isomorphous
phase diagram

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Isomorphous system
Tie line
Tie line is the line which is drawn
parallel to the composition axis at any
temperature of interest in a two phase
region in order to find out the composition
of the two phases.
In isomorphous diagram the two
phase region consists of liquid and solid.

Isomorphous system
Within the solid+liquid two phase region
the liquid composition is given by the
point where the tie line cuts the liquidus
line and the solid composition is given by
the point where it cuts the solidus line.

Isomorphous system

T
CL CO
Wt%B

CS
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Isomorphous system
Lever rule
Lever rule is a rule which is used for
finding out the fraction (amount) of the
phases present at any point in a two phase
region.

To do so the tie-line is treated as a lever

arm, with the fulcrum at the overall
composition.

Isomorphous system
For the arm to be horizontal, the
weight to be hung at each end must be
proportional to the arm length on the
other side of the fulcrum.
The weight at each end corresponds
to the amount of the phase at that end.

Isomorphous system
Cl

fl

i)

Co
fulcrum

Cs

fs

C s Co
fraction of liquid( f l )
Cs Cl

Co C l
ii ) fraction of solid ( f s )
C s C l

Isomorphous system
Where,
Co - Overall composition of the alloy
Cl - Composition of the liquid
Cs - Composition of the solid

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Eutectic Systems
Introduction
Microstructure Changes in Eutectic
systems

Application of Tie line and lever rule

Eutectic Systems
What is eutectic phase diagram?
Many pairs of elements and
compounds are unlikely to satisfy the
Hume Rotherys rule for complete solid
solubility.
When solid solubility is limited and
melting points of the components are not
vastly different, an eutectic phase
diagram usually results.

Eutectic Systems
Liquidus I
Solidus I

Solvus I

Liquidus II
Solidus II

Solvus II

Eutectic Point

Typical Eutectic Phase diagram containing A

and B components

Eutectic Systems
The point in which three phase
equilibrium exists in eutectic phase
diagram is called eutectic point.
The composition and Temperature and
corresponding to this point is called
eutectic composition(ce) and eutectic
temperature(Te).

Eutectic Systems
The reaction occurs at eutectic
composition and eutectic temperature is
called eutectic reaction.
The eutectic reaction is a reversible
reaction and the corresponding phase
transformation is as below:
Liquid

Cooling
Heating

Solid1 + Solid2
()

()

Eutectic Systems
The eutectic mixture ( + ) which is
formed through isothermal reaction is
called microconstituent rather than phase
since it consists of two phases.
The alloys having composition less than
eutectic composition is called hypoeutectic
alloys and greater than is called
hypereutectic alloys.

Eutectic Systems

And the phase which has formed above

eutectic temperature in both hypo and
hyper region is called pro-eutectic phases.

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Eutectic Systems

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Demonstration of Microstructural Changes

During Cooling in Eutectic Phase Diagram

Eutectic Systems

Eutectic Systems

Eutectic Systems

Eutectic Systems

Eutectic Systems

Eutectic Systems

Eutectic Systems

Eutectic Systems

Eutectic Systems

Eutectic Systems

Eutectic Systems

Eutectic Systems

Eutectic Systems

Eutectic Systems

Eutectic Systems

Eutectic Systems
Application of tie-line and lever rule
Tie Line
B

Eutectic
Temperature(Te)

co
CS

ce co

CLce

ce

Eutectic Point

Application of lever rule above eutectic line

Eutectic Systems
Cs
fs

i)

Co
fulcrum

CL
fl

Co C s
fraction of liquid( f l )
Cl Cs

Cl C o
ii ) fraction of solid ( )( f s )
C l C s

Eutectic Systems
Tie Line

Eutectic
Temperature(Te)
B

ce co

A
C

ce

ce

Eutectic Point

Application of lever rule below eutectic line

Eutectic Systems
Application

of lever rule just below eutectic

temperature
Ce

fe

i)

Co
fulcrum

Ce

fe

Ce Co
fraction of proeutectic ( f pro )
C e Ce

Eutectic Systems
Ce

fe

i)

Co
fulcrum

Ce

fe

C o Ce
fraction of eutectic mixture ( f eut )
C e Ce

Eutectic Systems
Ce

fe

i)

Co
fulcrum

Ce

f e

fraction of total present ( f tot )

C e C o
C e Ce